Stalls at new Central vegetable market go under the hammer

The auctions were conducted on the directives of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister.

The civic body fetched a total of Dh89.25 million from a total of 14 auctions held in three phases.

The first set of auctions was held in June earlier this year while the second was held last month.

The third phase of the auctions, held on Tuesday at the municipality's Staff Club at Al Garhoud, fetched the municipality a total of Dh4.73 million.

Tuesday's auctions included 21 Bastas, which were auctioned for Dh2.695 million, three retail shops in Building No. 1 for Dh900,000 and four retail shops in Building No. 2 for Dh1.14 million.

Abdul Rahman Al Sharid, Director of General Projects Department at the municipality and chairman of the committee formed to oversee the shifting of the Hamriya Central Vegetables and Fruits Market, conducted the auction procedures.

The new market, which is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in the region, has three yards for selling fresh produces of fruits and vegetable for farmers.

It includes an administrative block and wholesale and retail markets.

The wholesale market comprises seven blocks consisting a total of 284 outlets, while the retail market comprises four blocks consisting 150 vegetable, meat and fish outlets. Each shop in the wholesale market is provided with two parking lots for loading goods on one side and two parking lots for unloading imported goods on the other side.

Centralised refrigerators and warehouses are also being set up in this section. In the area specified for selling through trucks, there is a waiting area to queue up before entering the direct trading zone. This section also includes a direct trading zone for buyers and retail traders.

Civic amenities at the new market include a mosque, car service and petrol stations, garbage collection areas, a police station, Civil Defence unit, post office, bank, supermarket, pharmacy, cafeteria, restaurants, labour accommodation, parking lots and a 100-room motel for truck drivers. The market also has a Union Cooperative Society outlet.

The Dh150 million project is part of the speedy development process taking place in Dubai and is designed to meet the requirements of the emirate's vegetables and fruits trade for the next decade.